JPH04100185A - Portable external information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm a read even when an ambient noise is loud by vibrating a housing once external information is read. CONSTITUTION:Once the external information is read by a read means 11, a vibration adding means 13 vibrates the housing. A user can, therefore, confirm that the external information is read not auditorily and visibly, but by the sense of touch by a hand. Consequently, even if the ambient noise is loud, the read of the external information can be read. In this case, an informing instrument such as an earphone is not required, so the trouble of using the informing instrument is eliminated. Further, the read can be confirmed without shifting the eye from the object, so the efficiency of the reading operation is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] For example, the present invention relates to a portable external information reading device such as a portable barcode reading device, and particularly has a reading notification function that notifies the user whether external information has been read or not. Regarding the external information reading device equipped, the surrounding noise is loud (but
It is possible to confirm the reading of external information, eliminate the hassle of using notification devices such as earphones, and furthermore, it is possible to confirm the reading of external information without taking your eyes off the object. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable external information reading device that can read external information, and includes external information reading means for reading external information, and determining means for determining whether or not the external information has been read by the external information reading means. and vibration adding means for applying vibration to the casing when the determination means obtains a determination result that the external information has been read.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a portable external information reading device such as a portable barcode reading device, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a portable external information reading device such as a portable barcode reading device, and in particular, an external information reading device equipped with a reading notification function that notifies the user whether external information has been read or not. Regarding.

In recent years, barcode reading devices are often used as input devices for external information in various computer systems. This is due to the ease of inputting external information and the fact that it is portable.

For example, in the retail industry, when constructing a product management system, product information is often input using a barcode reader.

In such a barcode reading device, a user reads a barcode by scanning the barcode attached to an object using a barfoot reading section.

Therefore, depending on the scanning method used by the user, the barcode may not be read completely.

Therefore, when constructing a barcode reading device, it is desirable to add a function to notify the user whether or not the barcode has been completely read.

[Conventional technology]

In order to meet this demand, conventional methods have been adopted that appeal to the user's hearing and vision.

Specifically, the following three methods were adopted.

(1) A method in which a buzzer is attached to the board inside the device and the buzzer sounds when the bar hood is read. (2) A method in which the buzzer sound is also transmitted to the user via earphones. (3) A method in which the buzzer is attached to the device's casing. However, how to install the lamp and turn on this lamp once the barcode is read?
In the case of method (1), there was a problem in that if there was a lot of ambient noise, the user could only hear the buzzer sound, making it impossible to confirm the reading.

Moreover, in the case of method (2), there is a problem that it is troublesome because the user has to wear earphones.

Furthermore, in the case of method (3), the user has to take his/her line of sight away from the object once to check whether the lamp is lit, which makes the reading process troublesome.

[Invention or problem to be solved]

As mentioned above, conventional barcode reading devices equipped with a reading notification function have the following problems: (1) the problem of not being able to confirm the reading due to high ambient noise, and (2) the problem of not being able to confirm the reading due to loud surrounding noise. (3) It is necessary to take one's line of sight away from the object, which makes the work cumbersome.

Therefore, this invention makes it possible to check the reading of external information even when the surrounding noise is large, eliminates the trouble of using a notification device, and furthermore, without taking your eyes off the object. An object of the present invention is to provide an external information reading device that can confirm reading of external information.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

In the figure, ] is an external information reading means for reading external information. The read output of this external information reading means 11 is supplied to determination means 2. This determination means 1
2 is a reading means that determines whether external information has been read based on the output of 1; This determination result is supplied to the vibration adding means [3]. The vibration adding means 13 applies vibration to the casing when the determining means 12 determines that external information has been read.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when the external information is read by the reading means 11, vibration is applied to the casing by the vibration adding means [3]. Therefore, the user can confirm that the external information has been read not by hearing or seeing but by using the tactile sensation of the hand.

This makes it possible to confirm the reading of external information even if the surrounding noise is large. Furthermore, since the reading can be confirmed without using a notification device such as an earphone, the troublesomeness of using a notification device can be eliminated. Furthermore, since reading can be confirmed without taking one's line of sight away from the object, the efficiency of reading work can be improved.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, FIG. 2 shows how this is applied to a barcode reading device of a so-called hand belt terminal (hereinafter referred to as HHT) 100, which is a portable terminal device used for inputting product quantities in, for example, a retail product management system. A typical case where the invention is applied is shown below.

The work of inputting the quantity of goods by the HHT 100 is broadly divided into the work of reading the goods code attached as a bar code to the packaging of the goods and the work of counting the quantity of goods.

Therefore, in the following explanation, first the configuration for reading barcodes will be explained, and then the configuration for counting the quantity of products will be explained.

In the figure, 101 is a reading section. This reading unit 101 has a function of shining light onto an object and converting the reflected light into an electrical signal. Therefore, this reading section 101
If the barcode is applied to a barcode attached to a product's packaging and the barcode is scanned, it will be read as a change in the brightness of the barcode or a change in the amplitude of the electrical signal.

102 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU).

This CPU 102 determines whether or not the barcode has been read based on the reading output of the reading section 101.

103 is a buzzer drive circuit. This buzzer drive circuit]
03 is the CPU] When the barcode is determined to have been read by the CPU 02, the CPU IO2 is turned on. This drives the reading notification buzzer 104, which is made up of, for example, a piezoelectric speaker.

The buzzer 104 is attached to, for example, the inner wall of the housing of the HHT 100, and when driven by the buzzer drive circuit 103, can apply its vibration to the housing.

Note that 105 is a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores control programs for the CPU 102 and the like.

Reference numeral 106 denotes an occasional write/read memory (hereinafter referred to as
RAM).

107 is a backup battery for the RAM 106.

108 is a display unit for displaying the content read by the reading unit 101 and the like. The display operation of the display unit 107 is based on the CP
Controlled by U102.

109 is an interface (hereinafter referred to as IF) for connecting the reading unit 101 and the CPU 02.

110 is an IP for connecting the CPU 102 and the buzzer drive circuit 103.

The above is the configuration for reading the cover coat.

Next, the configuration for counting the quantity of products will be explained.

In the figure, 1 is a count key used to count the quantity of products. This count key 111 is used to count the quantity of products in predetermined units.

112 is a keyboard. This keyboard 112 is
Count key 1] is used when inputting in advance the number of units (■) corresponding to one press of 1.

The unit quantity entered using this keyboard [11] is C
It is stored in the RAM 106 from the PU 1021m. Thereafter, each time the count key 111 is pressed, the CPU 102 reads it out, cumulatively adds it, and stores the addition result in the RAM 106.

As a result, the product quantity is counted by unit quantity.

The above is the configuration for counting the quantity of products.

Note that 113 is a power supply section for supplying power to each section of the HHT 100. This power supply section 113 is a connector】1
Charger 2 configured separately from HHTloo via 4
Connected to 00.

Further, 115 and 116 are an IF and a connector, respectively, for connecting HHTloo to a host device.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG.

Note that FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 02 in barcode reading processing, which is a feature of the present invention.

At step $] in FIG. 3, the CPU 102 monitors whether or not a barcode reading output is obtained from the reading section 101.

If no read output is obtained, the CPU]02 repeatedly executes the process of step 1.

When the read output is obtained, the CPU 102 moves to step 2 and determines whether or not the barcode has been read.

When a determination result indicating that the data cannot be read is obtained, CPU1
In step 02, the process moves to step S, and it is determined again whether or not a barcode reading output can be obtained. Therefore, in this case, the buzzer drive circuit 103 is not turned on and the barcode is scanned again by the user.

On the other hand, if a determination result indicating that the data has been read is obtained, the CPU
]02 turns on the buzzer drive port 8103 in step S3. This drives the buzzer 104. The vibration of the buzzer 104 is transmitted to the casing of HHTlo,0, and is transmitted from this casing to the user's hand. This allows the user to confirm that the barcode has been read.

Once this confirmation is completed, the product quantity is counted. This counting process is based on the patent application filed by the applicant.
, No. o6. Therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

Note that the counting process may be performed before the barcode reading process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the above-mentioned HHTIo,0. Here, (a) is a side view of the HHT 100 seen from the front side, and (b) is a side view seen from the back side.

In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 4, the HHT f 00 is divided into a head part 1]7 and a handle part 118.

The head 117 is provided with a reading section 101 and a display section 108.

The handle part 118 includes a count key 111 and a keychain 1.
12, function keys 119 are provided.

The buzzer 104 is attached to the inner wall of the housing 120 at the head 117, as indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. 4(b). Further, in the housing 120, a small hole 121 for outputting a buzzer sound is provided at a position where the buzzer 104 is attached.

In such a configuration, when the buzzer 104 is driven, the buzzer sound is output to the outside of the casing 20 through the small hole 121, and the vibration of the buzzer 104 is also transmitted to the outside of the casing 1.
20 will be informed. Thereby, the user can confirm that the barcode has been read by the buzzer sound and the vibration of the housing 120.

As described in detail above, in this embodiment, the buzzer 104 for reading notification is attached to the housing 120, and the buzzer 104 is attached to the housing 120.
The vibration is transmitted to the housing [20].

According to such a configuration, when the buzzer 104 sounds, the vibration is transmitted to the user's hand via the housing 120, so that the worker can read the barcode using the tactile sensation of the hand rather than hearing or seeing. You can confirm that the

This makes it possible to reliably confirm that the barcode has been read even when there is a lot of ambient noise. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to use notification devices such as earphones, the troublesomeness that would be caused when using these devices can be eliminated. Furthermore, there is no need to take your eyes off the product to confirm that the barcode has been read, which improves the efficiency of barcode reading.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, the same parts as in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

In the previous embodiment, the buzzer 104 for reading notification is set to HH.
By attaching it to the head 116 of Tloo, the housing 1
The case where vibration is added to 20 has been explained.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, a diaphragm 22 made of a mechanical vibration element such as piezoelectric ceramics that converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration is attached to the handle part 118, and the diaphragm 22 is attached to the housing 120. It is designed to add vibration.

According to such a configuration, since the diaphragm 122 is attached to the portion gripped by the middle finger or the ring finger, the transmission ability of the diaphragm 122 to transmit the vibration to the user can be improved compared to the previous embodiment.

Although two embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the previous embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an HHT barcode reading device has been described.

However, the present invention may be applied to a device having only a barcode reading function.

Furthermore, in the previous embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable barcode reading device has been described.

However, the present invention, for example, in a portable copying machine, etc.
It can also be applied to the case of notifying that the reading process of characters, etc. has ended. That is, the present invention can be applied to general input devices that input external information using the device's automatic reading function.

In addition to this, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the user is notified that external information has been read by vibrating the casing of the device, so the user can use the tactile sensation of his or her hands to detect external information, rather than auditorily or visually. You can confirm that the information has been read. This makes it possible to confirm the reading even when there is a lot of ambient noise. Further, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of using a notification device such as an earphone. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to take one's line of sight away from the object each time to read external information, the efficiency of reading work can be improved.

In the figures, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

Claims (1)

[Claims] External information reading means (11) for reading external information
and determining means (12) for determining whether the external information has been read by the external information reading means (11), and a determination result that the external information has been read by the determining means (12). A portable external information reading device comprising: and a vibration applying means (13) for applying vibration to the casing.